Canadian Convenience Store Association Alleges Irresponsible Sale of Tobacco Occurs on Native Reservations

The association released findings that show Canadians the effect of Bill C-32, which went into effect on Monday.

July 07, 2010

OTTAWA, Ontario - On July 5, Bill C-32, which prohibits the sale of small flavored cigarillos in Canada??s 23,500 convenience stores, went into effect.

Simultaneously, the Canadian Convenience Stores Association (CCSA) released new evidence that illustrates the alarming extent of the irresponsible sale of tobacco and flavored cigarillos on native reservations in Quebec and Ontario. This evidence shows smoke shacks on Native reserves operating above the law and, in many cases, selling industrial quantities of cigarettes, even to minors, without collecting or paying any taxes.

"For the first time, we are showing Canadians that the irresponsible large-scale selling of contraband tobacco on Native reservations is nothing but a national disgrace caused and tolerated by the federal government," said Michel Gadbois, CCSA senior vice president. "With Bill C-32, Minister Aglukkaq just makes things worse by giving smugglers and criminals a monopoly on little flavored cigarillos."

The association hired a private investigator to produce a hidden camera expose of 10 tobacco shacks on the Kahnawake and Kanesatake reservations in Quebec. The resulting seven-minute video entitled "Inside Smoke Shacks" shows tobacco products on the shelves (not hidden), a very broad selection (native or imitation commercial brands, and in bags) at widely varying prices (as little as $11 for a carton of cigarettes, compared with $75 on average at convenience stores), an enormous inventory and, especially, a range of flavored cigarillos at a third or half their legal price.

In addition, the CCSA has released a second video, "Irresponsable Sale on Six Nations," which shows results of a first sting operation on the Six Nations reservation in Ontario. A 15-year-old girl visited 10 tobacco shacks to try and buy flavored cigarillos. In eight smoke shacks, she was able to buy tobacco products with no difficulty, without being asked her age or to produce ID.

"By burying its head in the sand, the federal government is turning its back on principles of public health and crime prevention that it has put years and millions of dollars into developing. It only feeds public cynicism that they??re letting such a situation deteriorate, and it??s high time we stopped it altogether," said Gary Grant, spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Contraband Tobacco.

"If she really has the kid's health at heart, Minister Aglukkaq??s top priority should be the fight against contraband tobacco and nothing else, until the situation is rectified," said Gadbois.

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